Course Unit in Health Assessment

• Assessment of the head

  • Inspect skull size, shape and configuration
  • Palpate head for consistency (nodules or masses & depression)
  • Inspect symmetry of facial movements
  • Inspect facial features
  • Inspect eyes for edema and hollowness
  • Palpate for temporomandibular joint range of motion (TMJ ROM)
• Normal findings for head assessment


  • Round and is of normal size or head circumference, Normocephalic, In proportion w/ gross body structure, Frontal, parietal and occipital prominences, Smooth skull contour
  • Smooth, uniform consistency; absence of nodules or masses
  • Symmetric facial movements, Raise or lower both eyebrows, Blink both eyes, Close both eyes tightly, Smile and show the teeth, Frown, Puff the cheeks
  • Symmetric facial features, Eye brow hair equally distributed, Palpebral fissures equal in size
  • No edema, Eyes not sunken
  • No edema, Eyes not sunken
• Deviations from normal for head assessment

  • Disproportionate, Asymmetric parietal and temporal prominences; with more prominent nose and forehead; longer mandible, Increased head circumference, Square – head, Bulging / depressed bone, Abnormal increase in head size in young child: may indicate hydrocephalus, Inconsistently large head size in adolescent or adult: may indicate acromegaly
  • Sebaceous cysts, Local deformities from trauma, Masses, Nodules
  • Asymmetric facial movements, Drooping of lower eyelid and mouth, Involuntary facial movement
  • Asymmetric features, Increased facial hair; thinning of eyebrows; exopthalmos; moon face
  • Periorbital edema, Sunken eyes, cheeks and temples (indicative of dehydration, starvation, and illness)
  • Abnormal, Swelling, Tenderness, Crepitation
• Assessment of the neck


  • Inspection of the neck from the neutral position, Inspection of the neck when hyperextended
  • Palpation of the neck

  
• Normal findings for neck assessment


  Neck erect, midline, no lumps, bulges, or masses, Thyroid not visible. No masses, swelling, or hypertrophy in mid to lower half of anterior neck, Supple, nontender, no masses

  
• Deviations from normal for neck assessment


  • Enlargements, Lymphadenopathy, lymphoma, or other malignancy, Torticollis, deviation of neck to one side caused by spasmodic contraction of neck muscles, Enlarged, visible thyroid, Goiter or malignant mass
  • Masses: Lymphadenopathy, malignancies, thyroid masses

  
• Cervical lymph nodes


  Occipital nodes, Post-auricular nodes, Pre-auricular nodes, Tonsillar nodes, Submandibular nodes, Submental nodes, Superficial cervical nodes, Posterior cervical nodes, Deep cervical nodes, Supraclavicular nodes, Infraclavicular nodes
• Normal findings for lymph node palpation


  Lymph nodes normally not palpable especially the deep and clavicular nodes, If a node is palpable, normal characteristics include small, 1 cm, mobile, soft, nontender, and usually superficial
• Deviations from normal for lymph node palpation

  Palpable nodes (1 cm or greater): Malignancy, inflammatory, or infectious process of glands or area they drain
• Palpating the thyroid


  Locate the thyroid isthmus below the cricoid cartilage, Anterior approach, Posterior approach
• Normal findings for thyroid palpation


  Generally nonpalpable. If some tissue is palpable , consistency is firm, smooth, and meaty, with no nodularity, enlargement, or tenderness
• Deviations from normal for thyroid palpation

  Enlarged thyroid, Nodular thyroid tissue, Tender thyroid
• Auscultation of the thyroid

  If thyroid gland is palpable, have patient hold breath and then listen over the thyroid gland with the bell portion of the stethoscope for bruits
• Normal findings for thyroid auscultation


  No sounds detected
• Deviations from normal for thyroid auscultation

  Increased vascularity of hyperthyroidism
• What's behind your neck?
• Anatomy of the Thyroid and Parathyroid Gland
• Lymph Nodes
• Muscles of the neck
• There are no visible veins on the back of the hand.
• Percussion is a health assessment technique that involves tapping the body to listen for sounds that can indicate the presence of fluid or air in a particular area.
• The patient has an increased respiratory rate at rest.
• The patient has no edema or pitting edema.
• Palpation is a health assessment technique that involves using the hands to feel for abnormalities such as lumps, tenderness, or swelling.
• The patient exhibits signs of dehydration such as decreased urine output, dark yellow urine, and sunken eyes.
• The patient's skin is pale, cool, dry, and slightly moist.
• The patient's skin is pale, cool to the touch, and dry.
• Inspection is a health assessment technique that involves visually examining the patient for any abnormalities or changes.
• The radial artery is located at the thumb side of the wrist, while the ulnar artery is found at the pinkie side.
• The brachial artery runs down the arm to the elbow joint.
• The patient's skin is warm, dry, and pink.
• The purpose of percussion is to determine if there is any abnormal accumulation of fluids, such as blood or pus, within an organ or cavity.
• Auscultation is a health assessment technique used to listen to sounds produced by various organs, such as heart and lung sounds, using a stethoscope.
• Inspection is a health assessment technique that involves visually observing the body for signs of illness or injury.
• Percussion is a health assessment technique used to determine the presence of fluid accumulation in body cavities by tapping on different areas of the body with the fingers.
• The patient's blood pressure is elevated due to hypertension.
• Incision is a surgical procedure where a cut is made into the skin or tissue to access underlying structures.
• The patient does not have any bruises or rashes.
• Palpation is a health assessment technique where the healthcare provider uses their hands to feel different parts of the body, including muscles, bones, and internal organs.
• Percussion is a health assessment technique that involves tapping on specific areas of the body with your fingers to produce sound waves and assess internal structures.